RJ Mitte, 'Breaking Bad' Actor and Disability Advocate, Dies at 34
Mitte, known for his role as Walter White Jr. and for advocating for disability rights, died by suicide, his representative confirmed.
RJ Mitte, an actor best known for his role as Walter White Jr. in the acclaimed television series "Breaking Bad," died on Monday at the age of 34. His representative confirmed that Mitte died by suicide.
A public celebration of life was held on Friday at the Mitte Cultural District in Brownsville, Texas, where friends and family gathered to honor the late actor.
Mitte, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) at age three, used his platform to advocate for actors and individuals working in the entertainment industry with disabilities. He often spoke about the importance of representation and inclusion.
"Representation is everything, as we've seen over the last ten years with the growth of representation on television," Mitte said in 2023. "Having positive influences of individuals with disabilities, not just cerebral palsy, but all of them, changes the mindset. TV is something that we all share; we all watch. TV really brings communities together in a way that you might not realize through social outlet."
He appeared in 56 episodes of "Breaking Bad" from 2008 to 2013, portraying the son of Bryan Cranston's character, Walter White. Mitte often stated that his disability informed his performance and opened doors for him in his career.
"I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today without my disability," he said. "I utilized everything I know about living with cerebral palsy for my role in Breaking Bad."
Mitte also served as an ambassador for organizations such as United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. He frequently called for greater representation of disabled individuals both in front of and behind the camera, emphasizing that this visibility should extend beyond major events like the Paralympics.
"We know lots of progress is being made, but the industry must do more to help disabled people work both in front of and behind the camera," he told the Irish Examiner in 2016. "During the Paralympics there will be more disabled people than ever before on TV, but this shouldn’t be something that just happens every four years."
Mitte, who was adopted as a child, also spoke about his personal life, including his relationship with his family. He described how he helped support his mother and younger sister after his mother was partially paralyzed for six years following a car accident.
If you or someone you know needs help, the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. can be reached by calling or texting 988. An online chat is also available at 988lifeline.org.